Individual Dental Insurance is often necessary for individuals who do not have coverage at work. Typically, Dental Insurance offers dentists payments for specific, scheduled and non-scheduled services they perform. There are different types of dental insurance plans and eligibility for coverage may differ.

Individual Dental Insurance can normally cover you and your family. Most dental plans will pay for preventative care including two cleaning a year, as part of a preventative care program. These dental services for preventative care are often referred to as "scheduled services." There may be a deductible and coinsurance that applies for certain services including x-rays or crowns, but that depends on your dental insurance plan provider, and these are considered "non-scheduled services." Payments to dentists for non-scheduled services are normally based on "usual and customary charges" in the area. Also, there may be exclusions for services that apply to your dental insurance plan. It is important to carefully read your "Certificate of Insurance."

Each Dental Insurance plan will have its own exclusions. You might have to be with an insurance carrier for 6 months to a 1 year before you become eligible for major dental work including bridges, crowns, impacted teeth, and root canals. There is normally a maximum amount of benefits for services that your dental insurance company will agree to pay for in one calendar year. For example, your dental plan carrier might pay $100 for a tooth filing after you pay the deductible and co-insurance.

Most Indemnity or "Freedom of Choice" Dental Insurance plans allows you to go any dentist you choose without the worry of being out of network. Other Dental Insurance plans may require you to go a network dentist; otherwise, you will pay a higher deductible or co-insurance. The majority DHMO insurance plans have a select number of dentists, and may not pay for services outside their dentist list.

There may be a difference among Dental Insurance plans, in regards to the eligibility of children, who are in college or living in your household. Some dental companies will cover your child in college to age 25 and age 18 if not, but this depends on the dental insurance company.

Dental Insurance can protect your family from some expenses that would otherwise have to paid out-of-pocket . Most dentist will be paid "usual and customary fees" for services that are considered non-scheduled, and there can be differences across companies concerning your children's' eligibility age.

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